Current Chairs
Each year, ASC is led by two women who commit their time and energy to ensuring ASC successfully fundraises for its chosen beneficiary. The Lead Chair is responsible for organizing all monthly membership meetings, networking events, and fundraising events with the assistance of her Co-Chair and ASC’s Committees. After the June Luncheon, the Lead Chair passes the baton to the Co-Chair, who becomes Lead Chair in the following year. Click here to see a list of past Lead and Co-Chairs.
Lead Chair
Jennifer Klein Ayers
Jennifer Klein Ayers is a partner at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, where she defends global businesses in complex intellectual property matters including patent infringement; trademark infringement; trade secret, non-compete, and unfair competition disputes; and large IT outsourcing disputes. Jennifer works on matters involving computer hardware and software, information technology systems, business process outsourcing (BPO) services, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and consumer products. Jennifer has considerable experience litigating cases throughout the United States in Federal district courts in Texas, California, Delaware, Illinois, and New York. Jennifer has also litigated in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the New York County Supreme Court, including the complex commercial division. Jennifer’s victories include numerous Daubert orders excluding both technical and damages experts; summary judgment (upheld on appeal to the Federal Circuit); dismissal with prejudice (upheld on appeal to the Federal Circuit), and a $5 million award of attorneys’ fees.
Jennifer is also deeply committed to providing pro bono legal services, including for matters involving actual innocence. She has contributed to Sheppard Mullin’s Active Bystandership of Law Enforcement (ABLE) project and the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project. She is also the national co-chair of Sheppard Mullin’s Women Lawyers Group. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. She was recognized as “One to Watch” by U.S. News Best Lawyers in 2023 and 2024, identified as a “Best Lawyer” in Dallas by D Magazine in 2023, identified as a Top 50 Up-and-Coming Woman Attorney by Texas Monthly in 2022, and has been selected as a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers for five years in a row. She was also recognized in 2020 as “On the Rise” by Texas Lawyer’s Professional Excellence Awards—an award given to only thirty Texas lawyers. Jennifer joined ASC as a first-year attorney and has been a member of the organization for the entirety of her legal career. She was one of the original co-chairs of ASC’s 5k Committee and has helped ASC present that event every year since its inception. Jennifer is excited to work with Devon to raise funds and awareness for Crossroads. In her down time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband, Thomas, their two kids, Caroline and Neal, and their dog Cooper.
Co-Chair
Devon Sharp
Devon Sharp is Associate General Counsel at Galderma Laboratories, L.P., where she specializes in employment law, data privacy, and commercial contracting across the company’s aesthetic, commercial, and prescription business units. She joined Galderma from a top Texas law firm where she represented companies in a wide range of employment disputes, general business disputes, and in transactional matters, and where she served as Co-Chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Group from 2016 to 2021. Devon has extensive experience prosecuting, defending and managing litigation and arbitration in venues across country. Her practice also includes representing companies in employment matters before state and federal agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the Department of Labor (DOL), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Devon is a proactive advisor and counselor when it comes to risk minimization and litigation avoidance, including compliance with federal, state and local laws (both in the employment and data privacy areas), developing effective policies and procedures, and protection of trade secrets and confidential information.
Devon received her Juris Doctorate from Baylor Law School. She was recognized as a Rising Star by Thompson Reuters Super Lawyers from 2011 to 2021, and was identified as a Top 100 Up-and-Coming Attorney and a Top 50 Up-and-Coming Woman Attorney by Thompson Reuters Super Lawyers in 2020. She was identified as one of Texas’ Best Lawyers in Litigation – Labor and Employment by Woodward/White, Inc. Best Lawyers in America for 2021-22. Devon also served on the Board of Directors for Dallas Summer Musicals Associate Producers from 2010 to 2017. Devon joined ASC as a first year attorney and has been a member of the organization for the entirety of her legal career. She was one of the original co-chairs of ASC’s 5k Committee and has helped the organization run that event every year since its inception. Devon is thrilled to work with Jennifer to raise funds and awareness for Crossroads. When not practicing law or participating in ASC activities, Devon enjoys playing golf, listening to live music, cooking and eating delicious food, and spending time with her husband, Scott, their two kids, Phoebe and Jonah, and their dog, Teddy.